Stephen Wanczyk-Karp is executive director of NASW-CT:
CT police: Updated ‘red flag’ law used largely for suicide threats
CT Mirror
Stephen Wanczyk-Karp, executive director of the Connecticut chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, said the intent was to make sure there were no weapons in a house that someone could use against themselves or others. “That is not what the changes in the law were intended to do,” Wanczyk-Karp said. “I don’t think the intent was for these cases to end up in court with open cases for at least 14 days if there were no weapons found.” He said the expanded law wasn’t supposed to make police determine the state of someone’s mental health.

Yvonne Chase is president-elect of NASW:
Child’s death, other breakdowns raise questions for DFCS
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Caseworkers in Georgia and across the nation are trading their jobs for less stressful, higher paying ones. This has resulted in a domino effect: caseworkers leave, and their cases are shifted to other caseworkers. Those caseworkers then become overburdened and leave, thus continuing the cycle. “This is unfortunately not unique to Georgia,” said Dr. Yvonne Chase, president-elect of the National Association of Social Workers. “We have always had difficulty in maintaining staffing and child protection agencies, but the pandemic has made it worse.”

Melina Brann is director of policy and advocacy for NASW-MI:
Shirkey’s long sought-after mental health legislation defeated in bipartisan vote
Michigan Live
Melina Brann is director of policy and advocacy with the National Association of Social Workers’ Michigan chapter, which also opposed the bills. She said for next term, lawmakers hoping to tackle mental health issues should look at expanding services that already exist and additional funding. “There’s a huge accessibility problem to those who are not on Medicaid within the (community mental health) system, so we need to expand that to some other insurances as well,” Brann said. “We can also use the financial aid to increase the mental health and addiction workforce shortage.”

Danielle Smith is executive director of NASW-OH:
New Bill Would Change Requirements to Become a Licensed Social Worker in Ohio
The Ohio Star
According to Danielle Smith with the National Association of Social Workers Ohio Chapter, the proposed changes are concerning. “The public could no longer trust that a “licensed social worker” is actually someone with a degree in social work, eroding our professional standing and reputation. A degree from a related field likely carries no requirements for an internship meaning that an LSW could have no practical experience before becoming licensed,” Smith said. In Ohio, a licensed social worker can diagnose and assess mental health disorders under supervision.

Jodi Taub is a member of NASW-NYS:
Planning for the Busy Holiday Season
CSL Behring
The holidays overflow with meaning for many of us. It’s a time to savor long-established traditions and make plans with friends and family. However, for those living with rare, chronic conditions, the holidays always come with an added layer of stress. Like everyone else, we wonder how we will get it all done. And we bear the extra burden that our health issues could cause us to cancel plans, disappoint our favorite people and miss out on some of the fun that comes only once a year.

John Richardson-Lauve is a member of NASW-VA:
Study: The Pandemic Aged Teenage Brains
Newsmax
School closures and separation from peers created toxic stress for teenagers, said John Richardson-Lauve, a licensed clinical social worker and mental health director at ChildSavers, a nonprofit focused on trauma therapy for children in low-income communities. He explains this stress alters portions of the brain so that the kids do not process trauma and memories in the same way. While the brain has the ability to bounce back and heal, says Axios, Richardson-Lauve warned that “we can never erase the events of the trauma of the experience. Things never go back to normal after bad things. It’s kind of a myth.”

Social Workers of New York City Respond to Mayor Adams Plans Surrounding Homeless Individuals
Yahoo
The National Association of Social Workers-New York City Chapter (NASW-NYC) is following developing announcements from several sources, including the New York Times (NYT) who released an article titled “New York City to Remove Mentally Ill People from Streets Against their Will” on November 29^th, 2022.  Like the organizations, agencies, and people who have been voicing concerns across social media and reaching out to NASW-NYC in light of the announcement, we too learned of the Mayor’s plan to involuntarily hospitalize people, when it was announced. NASW-NYC will continue to monitor these unfolding developments, seek to work collaboratively with our partners to evaluate the implications, and mount a more comprehensive response as we learn more.

Lateisha Morgan is a member of NASW-NV:
[Video] Seasonal Affect Disorder (SAD) with Intermountain Healthcare
8 News Now Las Vegas
Licensed clinical social worker, Lateisha Morgan explains Seasonal Affect Disorder, a form of depression that usually occurs at the end of fall and lasts throughout winter. [View on Youtube.]

Abby Wilson is a member of NASW-TX:
TikTok’s “Damp” Lifestyle Is All About Mindful Drinking
New Day Post
According to Abby Wilson, LCSW, a psychotherapist with a background in addiction treatment, the the process of figuring it out can feel super empowering. “It’s healthy to take a step back and be curious about which behaviors are supporting you versus hindering your growth as a person,” Wilson tells Bustle. If you realize your drinking habits often lead to a hangover, an empty bank account, or if you’re tired of your social life revolving around happy hour, then the damp lifestyle might be calling your name.

Pinnacle Award Finalist Kary James: ‘I’m Proud To Be An Advocate For Colleagues’
Washington Exec
As a social worker and child welfare professional, I’ve spent my career working to improve systems with historical practices that pose barriers to equitable outcomes. I’ve dealt with some of the most difficult cases: child abuse and neglect prevention, adoption, foster care and more. These cases disproportionately impact racial and ethnic minority communities, so I’ve seen firsthand how organizational biases can affect equitable delivery of services and resources.